U.S. patent number 3,748,460 [Application Number 05/170,667] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-24 for recessed suspended lighting fixture.
Invention is credited to Edison A. Price.
United States Patent |
3,748,460 |
Price |
July 24, 1973 |
RECESSED SUSPENDED LIGHTING FIXTURE
Abstract
A recessed lighting fixture comprises a suspended ceiling
structure including a plurality of rectangular frame members
forming part of the ceiling support structure each frame member
including a pair of opposite longitudinal tracks. A rectangular
housing is provided with follower members defined by resilient
metal bands depending from and engaging openings in the side walls
of the housing and releasably slidably engaging the tracks to
slidably support the housing which is longer than the frame member.
A louver member registers with the frame and releasably engages the
housing supporting followers. The housing is divided into a ballast
compartment and a lamp compartment by a transverse lamp socket
mounting panel and unitary spring elements releasably retain
ballasts in the ballast compartment and releasably lock a ballast
compartment closure panel in closed position. A reflector member is
located in the housing and retained in position by lugs on the
follower bands. The lighting fixture and support frame is
characterized by the use of self-formed fastening arrangements and
the obviation of welding, rivet screws and other similar fasteners.
Access to the lamps, ballast compartment and the space above the
ceiling is readily accessible as desired by dropping the louver
member, sliding the housing and dropping an end of the housing.
Inventors: |
Price; Edison A. (New York,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
22620804 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/170,667 |
Filed: |
August 10, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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722341 |
Apr 18, 1968 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/347;
362/365 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
17/164 (20130101); F21V 21/04 (20130101); F21V
13/10 (20130101); F21V 15/01 (20130101); F21V
23/026 (20130101); F21S 8/02 (20130101); F21V
11/06 (20130101); F21V 7/005 (20130101); F21Y
2103/00 (20130101); F21Y 2113/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
21/02 (20060101); F21V 21/04 (20060101); H05b
033/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/9R,9A,51.11R
;248/343 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Greiner; Robert P.
Parent Case Text
The present application is a Continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 722,341 filed Apr. 18, 1968, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A lighting fixture comprising a pair of transversely-spaced
longitudinally-extending track members, a lamp mount positioned
above said track members and comprising a rectangular open-bottomed
housing including a top wall and depending longitudinal side walls,
follower members positioned on said mount and slideably engaging
said track members, each of said follower members including a
vertical resilient band having an upper section engaging a
respective side wall of said housing and a lower section releasably
engaging a corresponding track member, a reflector member
positioned in said housing and including longitudinally-extending
flanges underlying the lower edges of said side walls, said
resilient bands being provided with inwardly-directed
upwardly-sprung fingers engaging the underfaces of said
flanges.
2. A lighting fixture comprising a pair of transversely-spaced
longitudinally-extending track members, a lamp mount positioned
above said track members and comprising a rectangular open-bottomed
housing including a top wall and depending longitudinal side walls,
follower members positioned on said mount and slideably engaging
said track members each of said follower members including a
vertical resilient band having an upper section engaging a
respective side wall of said housing and a lower section releasably
engaging a corresponding track member, each of said track members
including a longitudinally extending wall provided along its lower
inner face with a longitudinally-extending upwardly-facing channel,
the lower section of said resilient band being outwardly off-set
and having a bottom edge registering with said channel.
3. The lighting fixture of claim 2 wherein each of said track
members includes a longitudinally-extending lip positioned above
each of said channels, the lower section of each of said resilient
bands having an upper shoulder releasably engaging the underface of
said lip.
4. A lighting fixture comprising a pair of transversely-spaced
longitudinally-extending track members, a lamp mount positioned
above said tracks and comprising a rectangular open-bottomed
housing including a top wall and depending longitudinal side walls
and transverse first and second end walls and being of a width less
than the transverse distance between said track members, a
longitudinally spaced pair of follower members depending from each
of said side walls and slideably engaging said track members and
longitudinally slideably supporting said housing above said track
members, at least one of said follower members of each pair thereof
being disengagable from a respective track member, a pair of
transverse cross pieces extending between and secured to the ends
of said track members and defining a rectangular support frame
therewith, the length of said casing being greater than that of
said frame and the longitudinal distance between said follower
members being less than that between said cross-pieces, and a
vertical transverse panel spaced from said first end wall and
extending between said side walls and delineating a ballast
compartment with said side walls and first end wall and a lamp
compartment with said side walls and said second end wall, the
length of said lamp compartment being approximately equal to the
distance between said cross-pieces, said transverse panel having a
transverse slot formed therein above the bottom edge thereof and
including a lead spring member positioned in said ballast
compartment and comprising a pair of depending resilient sprung
first and second elements, said first element projecting through
said slot and depending below the lower edge of said panel and
terminating in an angular latching finger and said second element
being sprung toward said first end wall and being adapted to engage
a ballast member, and a cover panel swingably engaging along one
edge thereof the lower edge of said first end wall and releasably
engaging said latching finger along its opposite edge.
5. The lighting fixture of claim 4 wherein said sprung second
element has a tool receiving aperture formed adjacent to the free
end thereof.
6. A suspended ceiling light supporting structure comprising a
plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally extending beams
provided with tracks along the confronting faces of adjacent beams,
means for horizontally suspending said beams from overhead
supports, cross-pieces extending between and slidably engaging
adjacent tracks, and means for adjustably locking said cross-pieces
to selected positions along the lengths of said beams and each of
said beams including a pair of vertically spaced longitudinal
tracks having confronting channels, said cross-pieces terminating
in longitudinal end panels engaging said lower tracks and provided
with locking ears, and said locking means comprises spring members
including opposite upper and lower legs engaging said upper tracks
and said locking ears respectively.
7. The structure of claim 6 wherein each of said beams includes a
coupling flange extending along the upper border thereof and said
suspending means comprises a coupling member including a pair of
depending spring arms terminating in inwardly directed hook
sections engaging the under face of said coupling flange.
8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said flange terminates in
depending lips and said hook members include arms upwardly inclined
toward each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to improvements in lighting
fixtures and it relates particularly to an improved suspended
ceiling, recessed light fixture structure.
It is conventional practice, possessing many advantages, to provide
a suspended ceiling which is hung from the main ceiling, the space
between the main and the suspended ceiling containing various
utility and service devices such as electrical power lines, heating
and air conditioning ducts and the like. Lighting fixtures are
commonly recessed in the suspended ceiling and connected to the
electrical wiring located in the inter-ceiling space. The suspended
ceiling-mounted recessed lighting fixture assemblies, particularly
those employing linear fluorescent lamps, heretofore proposed and
employed, posses many drawbacks and disadvantages. They are awkward
and expensive devices which are difficult to assemble, install, and
service and often possess many unattractive features. Access to the
lamps and electrical components, such as the wiring and ballasts,
for repair and replacement is generally very difficult and
auxilliary openings are required to provide access to the
inter-ceiling space, an arrangement which leaves much to be
desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principle object of the present invention to provide an
improved lighting fixture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved
recessed lighting fixture structure.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved suspended ceiling-mounted recessed lighting fixture
structure of the type employing linear fluorescent lamps.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved
suspended ceiling-mounted recessed fluorescent lighting fixture in
which the lamps and various electrical components are easily and
rapidly available for servicing, repair and replacement and in
which the space between the main and suspended ceilings is readily
accessible through the fixture registering, suspended ceiling
opening without need for additional access openings.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an
improved recessed fluorescent lighting fixture which is easily
assembled and installed and in which the use of conventional
fastening means such as welding, screws and rivets is substantially
obviated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure
of the above nature characterized by low cost, ruggedness,
attractive appearance, durability, ease of installation,service,
and maintenance, adaptability and attractive appearance.
The above and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent from a reading of the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a
preferred embodiment thereof.
In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a
lighting fixture comprising a pair of transversely-spaced
longitudinally-extending track members, a lamp mount located above
said track members, and follower members positioned on said mount
and slidably engaging said track members.
The track members advantageously form the side members of a
rectangular frame which is part of a suspended ceiling structure
and include upper and lower inner channel sections confronting each
other. The lamp mount comprises an open-bottomed housing having
depending end and side walls and is of greater length than the
frame member, the follower members comprising resilient metal bands
depending from the housing side walls and having securing tongues
engaging openings in the side walls. The resilient bands terminate
at the lower ends in outwardly offset sections which engage the
respective tracks and slidably support the housing above the frame
member. A louver member registers with the frame member and along
one edge thereof separably swingably engages the follower bands
depending from one of the housing walls and is releasably retained
in a raised position by resilient tongues on the other follower
members. A socket supporting transverse panel is positioned in the
housing and divides the housing into ballast and lamp compartments,
the panel being provided with upset lugs engaging slots in the
housing wall, and a separable bottom panel closes the ballast
compartment. A plurality of inverted U-shaped leaf springs are
located in the ballast compartment, one leg of each spring
releasably engaging a ballast housed in the ballast compartment and
the other legs releasably lock the compartment closure panel. The
frame member is formed of extruded members which are of similar
cross-section and are joined by coupling angles and are supported
by channel structural members terminating in coupling sections.
The structure of the improved recessed lighting fixture assembly
according to the present invention permits the simple and rapid
replacement and servicing thereof, easy access being provided to
the lamps and electrical components, the latter being normally
masked and not detracting from the fixtures' attractive appearance.
Further, the ceiling opening delineated by the frame may be simply
exposed by swinging the fixture downwardly or by removing the
fixture without need for any tools, thereby providing quick and
easy access to the interceiling space. The lighting fixture is
easily assembled, the need for conventional fastening means being
eliminated, and is easily installed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of the improved recessed
lighting fixture shown in a mounted closed condition;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mounted
fixture;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view thereof taken along
line 3--3 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4--4 in
FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating by full line the
louver member in a partially open position and by broken line in a
fully open position;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the lamp housing supporting
track follower member;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8--8 in
FIG. 3, the ballast compartment cover being illustrated by broken
line in a partially open position;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating the
ballast-retaining spring contracted by an associated tool;
FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a ballast-retaining spring
and an associated spring contracting tool;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11--11 in FIG. 8;
FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a panel-securing
element;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mounted
fixture with a frame track section removed;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a follower abutment member;
FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of a housing end wall
panel;
FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the ballast compartment
closure panel;
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fixture reflector
member;
FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of one of the lamp socket
support panels;
FIG. 19 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof illustrated
with a mounted fluorescent lamp socket;
FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along line 20--20 in FIG. 19;
FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line 21--21 in FIG. 19;
FIG. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of a section of the
socket panel and housing top wall in unassembled condition;
FIG. 23 is a top plan view thereof in an assembled locked
condition;
FIG. 24 is a fragmentary top plan view of the housing shell;
FIG. 25 is a fragmentary side view of the frame support
assembly;
FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken along line 26--26 in FIG. 25;
FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the end coupling section of a
frame support member;
FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the support member hanger
bracket;
FIG. 29 is a sectional view taken along line 29--29 in FIG. 26;
FIG. 30 is a bottom plan view of a frame corner angle
connector;
FIG. 31 is a fragmentary plan view of an improved suspended ceiling
structure which is advantageously employed for supporting the
improved lighting fixture;
FIG. 32 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 32--32 in
FIG. 31;
FIG. 33 is a sectional view taken along lines 33--33 in FIGS. 31
and 32;
FIG. 34 is a sectional view taken along line 34--34 in FIG. 32;
FIG. 35 is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of the
ceiling structure;
FIG. 36 is a fragmentary plan view of another improved form of
suspended ceiling structure provided with the improved recessed
lighting fixture;
FIG. 37 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 37--37 in
FIG. 36;
FIG. 38 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 38--38 in
FIG. 36; and
FIG. 39 is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of the
suspended ceiling and fixture support structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 10 generally
designates the improved lighting fixture assembly which includes
the lighting fixture 11 and the lighting fixture support structure
12 which advantageously functions to support the suspended ceiling
panels and is carried by hanger rods 13 depending from the overhead
main ceiling. The space between the main ceiling and suspended
ceiling houses a number of utilities including electrical lines for
lighting fixtures 11 mounted in suspended ceiling 14.
Support structure 12 comprises a horizontal rectangular frame
member 16 which registers with a corresponding opening in suspended
ceiling 14 and includes opposite longitudinally extending side
elements 17 which define track members and transversely extending
end elements 18, said elements 17 and 18 being of similar
transverse cross-section and preferably formed of metal extrusions.
The ends of frame elements 17 and 18 are mitered and assembled as
will be hereinafter set forth.
Elements 17 and 18 are substantially channel shaped and each
includes a bottom cross-web 19 and upstanding parallel inner and
outer legs 20 and 21 respectively. Formed along the lower edge of
each leg 20 and depending below the cross-web 19 is a rectangular
channel section 22 having an upwardly directed opening constituting
the lower portion of an outer channel coplanar with the inner face
of frame leg 20, the upper portion of the outer channel being
defined by a longitudinal opening 25 in the underface of lip 23
formed along the upper section of the frame leg 20 and openings 25
and the opening in section 22 defining therebetween inner frame
tracks 15.
The outer frame legs 21, at least of the longitudinal frame member
elements 17, are provided along their outer faces with
longitudinally-extending confronting upper and lower channel
sections 26. Longitudinal grooves are formed at the bases of the
inner faces of legs 20 and 21 at the level of cross-web 19. The
upper inner face 27 of leg 20 above lip 23 is upwardly outwardly
inclined.
As seen in FIGS. 25 to 30 of the drawings, frame member elements 17
and 18 are arranged with their mitered ends in abutment and are
advantageously joined and interlocked by coupling angles 28. Each
coupling angle 28 includes a pair of perpendicular coplanar legs 29
having integrally formed therewith resilient locking tongues 30
which are downwardly inwardly inclined from points spaced inwardly
of the free ends of the angle legs 29. Rectangular slots 32 of the
width of and slightly longer than tongues 30 are formed adjacent
the ends of the frame leg cross-webs 19, and in the assembled
condition of frame member 16 the longitudinal borders of coupling
angle legs 29 engage the grooves in the inner faces of legs 20 and
21 and tongues 30 engage slots 32 with the free ends of tongues 30
abutting the outer transverse edges of slots 32, the coupling
angles lying on cross-webs 19.
Adjacent end-to-end spaced frame members 16 are supported by
transversely-spaced pairs of longitudinally extending horizontal
parallel connector members 33 which are coupled to longitudinal
frame elements 17. Each connector 33 comprises a channel section 34
including a vertical cross-web 36 and upper and lower horizontal
end flanges 37 and 38 respectively. Web 36 projects beyond flanges
37 and 38 to define a coupling tongue 39 having formed therein a
resilient locking tongue 40 which projects inwardly rearwardly from
a point rearwardly of the free end of the tongue to a point short
of the channel section 34. Formed from web 36 adjacent each end of
the channel section 34 is an angular tab including an inwardly
directed arm 41 terminating in a forwardly directed finger 42. A
connecting member 33 extends between each pair of aligned
longitudinal elements 17 of adjacent frame members 16, end tongues
19 thereof engaging at their top and bottom borders the
corresponding channels 26 in frame elements 17. Tab leg 41 abuts
the respective free end of frame leg 21 as exposed by a
foreshortening of the height of frame leg 21 of transverse frame
member leg 18, tab finger 42 engaging the inner face of
longitudinal frame leg 21. Locking tongues 40 engage
correspondingly shaped slots 43 formed in the ends of longitudinal
frame legs 21 and their free ends abut the outer edges of slots
43.
Connector members 33 are each supported by a medially located
hanger bracket 44 which in turn is supported by a transverse
cross-channel 46. Cross-channels 46 are supported by vertical frame
brackets which include upper cross-bars 48 having tapped vertical
bores which are engaged by threaded shanks 49 of hanger rods 13
suspended from the main ceiling. Threaded shanks 49 and the
associated tapped bores permit the leveling of cross-channels 46 to
a common horizontal plane.
Bracket 44 includes a rectangular vertically-disposed plate 50
having along its bottom edge a forwardly-projecting horizontal
flange 51 terminating in an upwardly-directed lip 52, the distance
between lip 52 and plate 50 being equal to the width of channel leg
38. Formed on plate 50 is a vertical rectangular opening 53, the
outer side of which is delineated by a pair of tongues 54 formed
from the plate 50 and projecting rearwardly at an angle from the
upper and lower edges of the opening 53 and angled toward each
other. Also formed from plate 50 is a forwardly projecting arm 56
terminating in a depending finger 57. Opening 53 is about the
height and width of channel member 46 and the distances between
flange 51 and the underface of arm 56 and between plate 50 and the
inner edge of finger 57 are about equal to the height and width
respectively of channel member 34. In the assembled condition of
the structure, channel members 34 rest on flanges 51 of
corresponding brackets 44 and are retained thereon by the lips 52,
plates 50 and legs 57, and a channel member 46 engages bracket
openings 53.
Lighting fixture 11 comprises an open-bottom rectangular housing 58
including a horizontal rectangular perforated top wall 59 and
longitudinally-extending vertical side wall 60 integrally formed
with and depending from the side edges of the top wall 59 and
provided along their bottom edges with inwardly-directed flanges
61. An inclined panel 63 extends along opposite side walls 60, the
lower edges thereof engaging the angles between flanges 61 and side
walls 60 and the upper edges thereof terminating in inwardly
directed horizontal flanges 63a abutting the underface of the top
wall 59 and engaged at their edges by retaining tabs 64 formed from
wall 59. Panels 63 and 59 define opposite longitudinal conduits for
housing wiring extending between opposite ends of housing 58.
Housing 58 includes transverse end walls 64 and 65, a first light
socket mounting transverse panel 66 spaced from the panel 65 and
delineating therewith a ballast compartment 67 and a second light
socket mounting transverse panel 68 spaced a short distance from
the end wall 64 and delineating therewith a wiring compartment 69
and delineating with the relatively remote panel 66, a linear
fluorescent light housing compartment 70.
Panel 68, as seen in FIGS. 18 to 23 of the drawings, includes a
rectangular plate 71 corresponding in dimensions to the inside
transverse dimensions of housing 58. It is formed with a plurality
of spaced locking tabs 72 projecting upwardly from the top edge
thereof and locking tabs 73 projecting laterally from the side
edges thereof. Each of locking tabs 72 and 73 includes a
rectangular base section 74 of a height approximately equal to the
thickness of housing walls 59 and 60 and of a width transversely
equal to that of the tranversely spaced aligned coupling slots 76
formed in the housing top wall inwardly of an end edge thereof and
spaced to correspond to the spacing of the tabs 72. Slots similar
to slots 76 are formed in side walls 60 to receive bases 74 of tabs
73. A triangular-shaped tongue 77 with a rounded apex, is medially
positioned above base 74 and is joined thereto by an
integrally-formed restricted neck 78 having downwardly converging
side edges. In assembled condition, tab bases 74 snugly engage
corresponding slots 76 in the housing top and side walls 59 and 60
and tongues 77 are upset about the bases of necks 78 into abutment
with the outer faces of the housing walls to effect a firm
securement of panel 68 in the housing.
A plurality of socket hoods or brackets 79 are positioned along the
length of the panel 68 and are integrally formed therewith, three
brackets 79 being shown in the illustrated embodiment. Each bracket
79 includes a downwardly outwardly inclined top wall 80 terminating
in a depending flange, outwardly converging side walls 81 and a
bottom opening 82. A rectangular opening 83 is formed in plate 71
in registry with each bracket 79 and a pair of spaced apertures 84
are positioned below the bottom edge of each opening 83. A two-pin
fluorescent lamp socket 86 of conventional construction registers
with and depends from each bracket 79 and includes rearwardly
projecting split locking lugs 87 which engage corresponding
apertures 84 to lock the sockets 86 in position, each socket being
provided with a pair of leads extending from the rear thereof into
compartment 69. A pair of horizontal coupling slots 88 are formed
in panel 68 intermediate the top and bottom thereof and inwardly of
the outer brackets 79. A rearwardly directed flange 89 is formed
along the lower edge of the panel 68.
End wall 64 is of rectangular shape and is provided along its
bottom edge with an inwardly projecting flange 90 which underlies
and projects beyond panel flange 89. Wall 64 projects beyond panel
flange 89. Wall 64 projects slightly above and abuts the end edge
of housing top wall 59 and is provided with a pair of spaced
horizontal coupling slots 91 in longitudinal alignment with
coupling slots 88. An angular connector member 92 (FIG. 12)
includes a horizontal leg 94 engaging each pair of slots 88 and 91
and a depending outer leg 96 which engages the outer face of wall
64. A diagonal slot 97 is formed in connector leg 94 to an edge
thereof to define an end-locking tab 98 having a diagonal
cam-defining inner edge. Locking tab 98 is bent about the section
joining it to the remainder of the coupling member 92 to an angle
to the horizontal to bear tightly on the inner face of panel 68
thereby to lock end wall 64 thereto. Spaced recesses 99 are formed
in the free edge of flange 90 in medial alignment with sockets 86
to facilitate the insertion of the fluorescent light terminal pins
into sockets 86. Also formed in flange 90 are spaced pairs of
recesses 100 provided with medial tongues 101 for supporting a
reflector member, as will be hereinafter described.
Partition 66 is provided along its upper and side edges with
securing tabs 102 similar to securing tabs 72 and 73 which tabs 102
project through corresponding slots in housing walls 59 and 60 and
are upset along the outer faces of the walls 59 and 60. Formed on
the inner wall of partition 66 are three light socket brackets 103
similar to and in longitudinal alignment with brackets 79, a light
socket 104 being supported in registry with each bracket 103 and
defining socket pairs with sockets 86 and releasably supporting
therewith corresponding longitudinally-extending linear fluorescent
lamps 106. Two pairs of vertically-spaced upper and lower
rectangular apertures 107 and 108 respectively are formed in panel
66 adjacent the inner edges of brackets 103. The lower edge of
panel 66 terminates in an outwardly directed flange 109.
End wall 65 is secured to the housing walls 59 and 60 by upset tabs
110 similar to tabs 72 and engaging corresponding slots in the
housing walls, the lower edge of wall 65 being provided with an
outwardly directed flange 111. A separable cover member for ballast
compartment 67 is defined by a rectangular panel 112 having a
rearwardly upwardly inclined flange 113 formed along its rear edge
to define therewith a channel which hingedly engages the rear edge
of flange 111 to swingably and separably support closure panel 112.
Formed along the inner edge of panel 112 (FIG. 16) are spaced
socket access recesses 114 corresponding to recesses 99 and spaced
pairs of recesses 116 provided with medial tongues 117. Panel 112
is provided with a depending elbow conduit 115 affording an
electric line passage into compartment 67 through an opening 105a
in panel 112.
Ballast members 118 of conventional construction are replacably
housed in compartment 67 and are releasably locked therein by a
pair of retaining springs 119 located in compartment 67. Each
spring 119 is formed of a resilient spring metal band and is of
inverted U-shaped configuration including downwardly diverging
outwardly sprung legs 120 and 121. Spring leg 120 has a rectangular
aperture 122 formed in its lower border and terminates at its
bottom edge in an ouwardly-directed flange 123 provided with a
transverse slot 126 along the junction thereof with leg 120. Formed
in the inner face of the upper section 125 of spring leg 121 is a
hook element 127 including an upwardly inwardly inclined bottom
portion 128 joining a vertical section 129 which terminates in an
upwardly inwardly inclined finger 135. The leg upper section 125 is
joined to a vertical upper intermediate section 130 by a horizontal
shoulder 131, intermediate section 130 joining a downwardly
inwardly inclined lower intermediate section 132 which, in turn, is
joined by an inwardly downwardly inclined locking shoulder 133 to a
depending outwardly inclined tongue section 134. An outwardly
directed tab 136 projects from the inner face of leg section 130.
In assembled condition, spring leg sections 125 abut the outer
faces of panel 66, the hook elements 127 projecting through
apertures 107 with portions 128 thereof abutting the top edges of
apertures 107. Spring leg 121 projects inwardly through apertures
108 with shoulders 131 abutting the top edges of apertures 108 and
shoulders 133 and tongues 134 projecting below panel flange 109
inwardly of panel 66, and tabs 136 engage the bottom edges of panel
112. In the closed position of panel 112, tongues 134 project
through corresponding slots 136 and project through corresponding
slots 105 formed adjacent the free edge of panel 112, shoulders 133
engaging the underface of panel 112. Panel 112 may be released for
swinging to its open position or for separation by pressing
outwardly on tongues 134 to shift shoulders 133 into alignment with
slots 105 so that the panel may be swung downwardly past shoulders
133 and tongues 134. The panel 112 is locked in its closed position
merely by swinging it upwardly so that slots 105 engage tongues 134
and swing them inwardly until the slots 105 pass shoulders 133.
A spring-contracting tool 137, as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, is
provided and includes a handle-defining base 138 having positioned
at its outer end an upstanding relatively long arm 139 and at a
point spaced inwardly thereof a distance about equal to that
between contracted spring legs 120 and 121, an upstanding
relatively short arm 140 parallel to the arm 139, the arms 139 and
140 being joined at their bottoms by a cross-piece 145 secured to
handle member 138. In releasably locking spring 119 in a contracted
condition attendant the mounting or removal of a ballast 118, arm
119 is inserted a short distance through the slot 126 along the
outer face of spring leg 120 and swung to urge the spring leg 120
to its contracted position, and the tool 137 is then fully raised
with the arms 139 and 140 engaging the outer face of spring leg 120
and the inner face of the panel 66, as seen in FIG. 9, tool arm 140
projecting between panel 66 and the lower section of spring leg
121. Spring leg 120 is released to its normal expanded position by
lowering and separating tool 137.
Housing 58 is supported above frame member 16 for longitudinal
slidable movement along tracks 15 by a plurality of follower
members 141 secured to and depending from housing side walls 60 and
engaging tracks 15. An equally longitudinally-spaced pair of
follower members 141 is positioned on each side wall 60 and are
mutually transversely aligned and are spaced inwardly of the outer
ends of housing 58 to permit a predetermined longitudinal movement
of housing 58. Follower members 141 are multifunctional, serving
releasably to retain the fixture reflector member and support the
louver member as well as slidably to support housing 58.
Each follower member, as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, is integrally
formed of a band of a resilient spring metal and includes at its
top a short upwardly inwardly inclined tongue 142 joined at its
bottom to a vertical section 143, which in turn is joined at its
bottom to a normally donwardly slightly inwardly inclined section
144. Depending from section 144 is a vertical section 146
terminating at its bottom in a short vertical restricted neck 147
which terminates in an inwardly directed narrow shoulder 148
provided at its inner edge with a short depending neck 149 from
which depends an integrally formed vertical follower element 150.
Follower 150 has parallel vertical upper side edges 151 and lower
edges 152 which converge downwardly from the bottom edges of side
edges 151 to a rounded bottom apex 153.
An upwardly inwardly directed hook member 154 is medially formed on
the inner face of follower 141 and projects from the junction of
follower sections 143 and 144 and includes a bottom outwardly
projecting arm 156 and an upwardly directed finger 157. Medially
projecting inwardly from the junction of follower sections 144 and
146 is an integrally formed upwardly inclined reflector retaining
arm 158 having a convex upper face. A resilient retaining tongue
159 medially projects from neck section 147 and includes an
inwardly upwardly inclined arm 160 terminating in an outwardly
upwardly inclined leg 161. Integrally formed on the inner face of
follower element 150 is a bail support hook member 162 having a
semi-cylindrical lower section 163 terminating at its top in an
upwardly inwardly inclined leg 164 which defines at its lower edge
a restricted throat or passageway to the knuckle-defining lower
section 163.
In assembled condition, the upper part of each follower 141 abuts
the outer face of a housing side wall 60, tongue 142 projecting
through a corresponding horizontal slot 165 formed adjacent the
upper edge of side wall 60 and the hook member 154 projects through
a corresponding rectangular aperture 166 formed in side wall 60,
the hook member bottom arm 156 engaging the upper edge of the
aperture 166. Retainer arm 158 is spring-urged to the under face of
side wall flange 61. Follower 151 registers with a track 15 and
abuts the inner face of frame leg 20, the follower element apex
engaging channel section 22 and slidably resting in the base of the
channel therein and the upwardly convex follower shoulder 149
slidably engaging the bottom edge of the inner leg of channel 25.
Thus, housing 58 is longitudinally movable along the frame member
and is limited in its movement short of the follower 150 reaching
the adjacent frame and legs 18 by stop members 165 (FIGS. 13 and
14) of angular configuration and including a square slide plate 166
engaging the tracks along the inner faces of frame and legs 18 and
inwardly directed legs 167 perpendicular to and of lesser height
than plates 166 and movable into registry with the longitudinal
tracks 15 in the path of follower elements 150. It should be noted
that follower elements 150 are resiliently outwardly urged into
engagement with the longitudinal tracks 15 and may be selectively
separated therefrom and positioned in engagement therewith.
Positioned in housing 58 is a unitary reflector member 168 which
includes three transversely-spaced integrally-formed
longitudinally-extending downwardly concave curved channel sections
169 individually functioning as reflectors for corresponding lamps
106. The outer longitudinal edges of reflector member 168 terminate
in outwardly directed horizontal flanges 170 which underlie housing
side wall flanges 61 and are so retained by the follower member
tongues 158 which engage the underfaces of flanges 170. The lower
adjacent longitudinal edges of reflector sections 169 are joined by
horizontal cross webs 171 having medial longitudinal grooves 172
formed therein. The ends of reflector member 168 abut the panels 66
and 68, the ends of the grooves 172 being engaged by the opposite
tongues 101 and 117 and the corresponding rib portions of web 171
registering with notches 100 and 116 in panels 64 and 112.
A louver member 173 is releasably supported in registry with frame
16 and comprises a rectangular frame 174 including opposite
parallel longitudinal side walls 176 and 177 respectively and end
walls 178. Spaced curved louver elements of known construction
extend between and are supported by the louver frame walls to form
curved wall rectangular cells in the known manner. The lower edges
of frame walls 176, 177 and 178 are provided with outwardly
projecting flanges 179 terminating in upwardly directed lips 180
which delineate with the bottom borders of the louver frame walls,
channels 185 which engage frame leg sections 22 when louver member
173 is in its normal mounted position.
The louver frame wall 176 has formed or located along its upper
outer face two longitudinally spaced pairs of longitudinally spaced
coaxial knuckle-defining loops 181. Each pair of knuckles 181
engage a depending wire bail 182 which includes a bottom
cross-piece 183 which engages and rests in a respective follower
member hook element 162, and a pair of upwardly diverging legs 184
which terminate in outwardly directed coaxial horizontal legs 186
engaged by the knuckles 181. The louver frame wall 177 has formed
along and below its upper border a pair of longitudinally spaced
outwardly projecting lugs 187 which are releasably engaged by
follower tongues 159 releasably to retain louver member 173 in its
raised condition.
The improved lighting fixture assembly described above is
characterized by the obviation of conventional fastening means such
as screws, rivets, welding and the like and with a few exceptions,
the fastening elements are self-formed. Access to lamps 106 for
replacement purposes is obtained merely by pulling louver member
173 downwardly at side wall 177, as shown in FIG. 5, to effect
disengagement between lug 187 and tongue 159 and swinging louver
member 173 to a freely suspended position from bails 182 which
permit the free swinging of louver member 173. Access to ballast
compartment 67 is obtained by separating louver 173 from follow
members 141 which is effected by detachably lifting bail
cross-pieces 183 from the follower member hook sections 162.
Housing 58 is then slid to the right, as viewed in FIG. 13, as
limited by a stop member 165 and until the ballast compartment end
of housing 58 registers with the opening delineated by frame member
16. The closure panel 112 is then opened in the manner described
above. The opening defined by frame member 16 may be substantially
completely exposed for access to the interceiling space or for
other purposes by separating a pair of laterally-spaced follower
elements 150 from their tracks by suitably pressing them inwardly
out of engagement with the tracks and then swinging the released
end of the housing 58 downwardly to a suspended position through
the frame opening about the other pair of follower elements 150
which are retained in the tracks, the edges of these follower
elements 150 turning in the lower track channels. Housing 58 may be
completely removed from frame member 16 by separating all of the
follower elements 150 from the tracks and moving casing 58 as
desired. Casing 58 is mounted on frame member 16 and located in its
normally-closed position by reverse procedure to that described
above.
Referring now to FIGS. 31 to 35 of the drawings which illustrate a
suspended ceiling structure which may be employed to advantage in
supporting the improved lighting fixture described above, the
ceiling structure includes a frame assembly 190 suspended from an
overhead main ceiling and provided with spaced rectangular areas
191 and 192 delineated by frame members and having registering
therewith lighting fixtures and ceiling tiles respectively. The
frame structure 190 includes parallel longitudinally extending
stringers or beams 193 which are interconnected by tranversely
extending cross-pieces 194.
The beams 193 are advantageously formed of aluminum extrusions and
each includes a vertical web 196 provided along its upper edge with
a horizontal flange 197 terminating along opposite edges in
depending lips 198. Coplanar horizontal flanges 199 are formed
along opposite faces of vertical web 196 below the lips 198 and
terminate in depending lips 200 substantially coplanar with lips
198.
Formed along the bottom of vertical web 196 is a horizontal flange
including oppositely directed relatively short and long legs 201
and 202 respectively, the flange leg 201 terminating in an upwardly
directed lip 203 coplanar with a corresponding lip 200 and the
flange leg 202 being provided with an upwardly directed lip 204
coplanar with a corresponding lip 200, the outer free section of
the flange leg 202 defining a support ledge 206. Longitudinally
spaced horizontal locating slots 207 are formed in the web 196
intermediate the bottom edge thereof and the flange 199.
The cross-pieces 194 are angle members each including vertical and
horizontal legs 208 amd 209 respectively and extend between
adjacent stringers 193. In the assembled condition of the frame 190
the angle member legs 209 extend substantially to the bottom
sections of corresponding lips 203 and the vertical legs 208 extend
substantially to the respective webs 196. The lower corners of the
legs 208 are cut away, as at 210 to clear the lips 203. The angel
member legs 208 terminate at opposite ends thereof in integrally
formed rectangular panels 211 perpendicular to the respective leg
208 and extending along the direction of the corresponding leg 209.
The panels 211 slideably abut the webs 196 and their lower borders
register with the tracks delineated by the flanges 201 and lips
203.
Formed in each of the panels 211 is an outwardly directed lug 212
which slideably engages a corresponding web slot 207. Formed in the
upper opposite end sections of the angle member leg 208 are
horizontal ears 213 which are positioned above the corresponding
leg 209. Associated with each ear 213 is a V-shaped leaf spring
clip 214 which includes upper and lower diverging spring legs 216
and 217 respectively. The upper spring leg 216 terminates in an
upwardly directed flange 218 which registers with a respective
track defined by a lip 200 and flange 199 and a corresponding part
of the web 196. The lower spring leg 217 has its end bent under and
rearwardly to form a loop section 219 which in the assembled
condition has its rearwardly directed leg catching the outer edge
of a corresponding ear 213. It should be noted that the angle
member legs 209 are directed away from the adjacent light fixture
areas 191.
The suspended ceiling frame 190 is hung from the main ceiling by a
plurality of inverted V-shaped leaf spring hook or clamp members
220, each of which includes an upper apertured knee section 221 and
depending inwardly sprung diverging legs 222. Each of the legs 222
terminates at its lower end in an upwardly inwardly inclined arm
223 joined to leg 222 by a curved elbow 224, the arm 223
terminating in an upwardly directed leg 226, which, in the frame
assembled condition, registers with a track defined by a lip 198,
flange 197 and the upper border of web 196. In coupling a clamp
member 220 to a beam 193 it is merely pressed downwardly over a
flange 197 which engages the clamp inclined arms 223 to spread the
spring legs 222 until the hook legs 226 clear the lips 198 and
spring back into engagement with the web 196. The clamp member 220
is then raised to bring the upper edges of the hook legs 226 into
engagement with the underface of flange 197. Each of the clamp
members 220 is suspended from a corresponding overhead ceiling
support by a wire 227 attached to and hanging from the overhead
support and looped through the aperture in the clamp knee section
221.
In the suspended ceiling and recessed light structure last
described, ceiling tiles 228 are arranged edge to edge and are
provided with end shoulders which rest on the ledges 206. A
lighting fixture as earlier described is positioned in each space
191 and a ceiling tile 229 is disposed in the space 192 between
successive spaces 191 by sliding an angle member 194 away from the
next member 194 delineating a space 192 with the lugs 212 sliding
along slots 207. A tile 229 is inserted in the enlarged space 192
and the angle member urged toward its opposite counterpart, and the
end shoulders formed on the tile 229 brought to rest on the angle
member legs 209. The shifted angle member 194 is locked in position
by a spring clamp 214.
In FIGS. 36 to 39 of the drawings there is illustrated another
improved form of suspended ceiling structure and light fixture
track assembly which may be employed to advantage. The suspended
ceiling frame includes a plurality of transversely spaced
longitudinally extending beams 230 substantially similar in
structure to the beams 193 and suspended in the manner described
above. Each of the beams 230 includes intermediate and lower
confronting channel shaped longitudinal tracks 232 and 233 similar
to those of the beam 193.
Extending between selected pairs of beams 230 are transverse
cross-pieces 234 in the form of angle members having vertical legs
236 and horizontal bottom legs 237, the legs 237 of a pair of cross
pieces 234 delineating a lighting fixture area, being relatively
outwardly directed. A coplanar rectangular tab 238 of reduced
height extends from each end of the angle member leg 236 between
respective tracks 232 and 233 and terminates in a rectangular panel
239 perpendicular thereto and abutting the vertical web 240 of the
beam 230. The lower border of the panel 239 slideably registers
with and engages the bottom track 233. A horizontal ear 241 is
formed in each end of the angle member leg 236 above the horizontal
leg 237 and a locking spring 242 of the same construction as the
locking spring 214 engages the corresponding ear 241 and upper
track 232 in the manner earlier described.
Formed in opposite end sections of each angle member leg 236 is an
inwardly directed panel 243 terminating at its free end in a
medially located locking tongue 244 having a curved bottom edge. A
pair of transversely spaced longitudinal track members 246 extends
between each pair of cross-pieces 234 and are supported by
longitudinally aligned pairs of panels 243. Each of the track
members 246 includes a vertical web 245 provided along its top edge
with an inwardly directed horizontal flange 247 terminating in a
depending lip 248 which define an upper downwardly facing channel
shaped track 249. An inwardly directed horizontal flange 250 is
formed along the bottom edge of the web 245 and terminates in an
upwardly directed lip 251 of greater height than the lip 251 of
greater height than the lip 248 and coplanar therewith to define a
bottom upwardly facing channel shaped track 252.
The cross-piece panels 243 abut the inner faces of the end sections
of webs 245 and their upper borders engage the upper tracks 249 and
abut the under face of the flange 247. The locking tabs 244 project
through vertical slots in the web 245 and are bent to engage the
outer face of and clamp the web 245 and interlock the track members
246 and cross-pieces 234. A longitudinal lip 253 depends from the
outer face of the web 245.
The lighting fixture is of the construction earlier described and
includes follower members 254 which are similar to follower members
141 and cooperate with the upper and lower tracks 249 and 252 in
the manner set forth above. The lighting fixture includes a louver
member 256 corresponding to louver member 173, and having a bottom
outwardly directed flanges 257 engaging the underfaces of lips 253.
The suspended frame structure supports the ceiling tile in the
manner earlier described. It should be noted that the longitudinal
sections of the frame structures not provided with cross pieces 234
or 194, as the case may be, are reinforced by transversely
extending angle members 258 resting on and extending between
corresponding pairs of longitudinal beams and provided with bottom
recesses which engage the upper borders of the beams.
While there have been described and illustrated preferred
embodiments of the present invention it is apparent that numerous
alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing
from the spirit thereof.
* * * * *